Imagining Clipse not rapping about “‘caine and guns” seems hard to even consider but it looks like that’s the way things are headed, at least maybe for Malice. Ruby Hornet caught up with the other brother Thornton during a recent book stop and he speaks on what’s in a name and why he feels it necessary to move away from being known as “Malice.”

“Am I really about to put this out there to the whole world and a world that has known me for 10 years or better in a different way? So to break through with a new meaning, a new identity, it was a burden because I didn’t know how people would take it, but I knew I had to do it. I didn’t care if I came under all the criticism or scrutiny in the world, this is something I had to do and I knew I was going to do it. It was like torment, ‘oh my god, I’m about to tell this story, I’m about to tell this… But I got to do it.”

Thought provoking to say the least. Not that the Virginia MC is the first to redirect his path because Black music as a whole has seen similar changes by everyone from Al Green to Mase. It’s just very rare in rap for someone to do make such a stark change out of what seems to be conviction instead of what ends up being a ruse.

Watch the clip below and then check out additional quotes from Malice Gene Thorton over at Ruby Hornet.

When I first heard the Clipse I thought Malice was better. Then everybody was saying Pusha’s flow was better and he was the better rapper. I agreed. But Malice is has been dropping jewels from the beginning.

05.26.11 at 9:58 am

MZ

If you listen to his lyrics throughout the years, this progression isn’t that much of a surprise.

05.26.11 at 10:00 am

500K Flea

Quit saying that one brother is better than the other; it’s unecessary and pointless.

05.26.11 at 10:05 am

500K Flea

Thank you MZ. It’s obvious that ninjaz don’t listen. Listen to Malice’s lyrics on “Til the Casket Drops”, the majority of his raps had deep introspection and sounded repentant. He’s been the more spiritual of the two brothers for quite some time now.

05.26.11 at 10:25 am

J. Tinsley

Lol it always points down to someone being better than someone else when it really doesn’t need to be.

Quit saying that one brother is better than the other; it’s unecessary and pointless.

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How? If they weren’t brothers we would be doing the so people are definitely gonna do it when both are good in two different ways.

05.26.11 at 10:43 am

Cal

Its funny, I always viewed Mal as the more “I’m gonna fuck ni99as up” brother, just coz of his mug and low profile nature. Come to find out he’s a friendly and loving caregiver and parent. Hip Hop is weird duuuuude! Or maybe its coz he’s something like 3 years away from 40.

As to the arguments above; Push has always had the quotables just due to his flow but Malice has always had that “Big Brother” delivery and themes.

05.26.11 at 11:16 am

500K Flea

@ Cell: Lol it always points down to someone being better than someone else when it really doesn’t need to be.
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^^^
Read that. lol

05.26.11 at 2:59 pm

petey wheatstraw aka pistol pete

malice has always been better…pusha is raw as fuck but malice puts his heart into it.

05.26.11 at 3:13 pm

Johnsneeze

I got to see him when he came to VCU in Richmond, Va to talk about his book. Pretty introspective dude and like MZ said, he was leaning towards this from jump. He did a little freestyle for us without the “Caine and Guns” and it was still pretty sick.